News 2011: Richardson Unveils Carrera Cup GB Campaign

March 3rd

George Richardson will challenge for the pro-am1 title in this year's Porsche Carrera Cup GB, as he goes into his second full season with Motorbase Performance.

The Alderley Edge-based teenager was one of the rising stars of the 2010 season, taking four pro-am2 victories in a row over the closing four races of the year and he will now step up to the pro-am1 class for the coming year. He ended the season with the 'most improved driver of the season' award. Richardson will not reach his 20th birthday until 10 days after the end of the Carrera Cup season.

"It will be right for me to step up to pro-am1 this year," said Richardson. "We see this as the year to really step up to the plate and the new Carrera Cup car will be a big new challenge. I've been training very hard over the winter and I'm doing five mile runs every morning to get absolutely ready," said Richardson. He has also been working with the Porsche Human Performance team to get himself in the best possible condition.

"My target is to get a top three overall finish by the end of the season. This is the second year of our three-year plan with Motorbase and I love the team," he said. "This year I've got Tim Harvey and Michael Caine in the team, which is all good for me. I've got two wise men instead of one. The season has been a long time coming and I'm really looking forward to getting back in the car."

Team boss David Bartrum is delighted with the way that Richardson is developing his career. "George is ready to move up a league and keep his career momentum going forwards," said Bartrum. "He was third in pro-am2 last year, but only six points off the title and by the end of the season he was the pacesetter. If he'd not had a water pump failure at Croft, when he was leading, he would have won pro-am2.

"George has completely grasped what it takes to be strong in a Porsche," continued Bartrum. "He's learnt how to deal with the team and the engineers and he's learnt how to deal with the sponsors very well. He doesn't expect it to come to him; he goes out and works very hard for it."

Richardson will shortly start testing his 450bhp 911GT3 Cup and will take part in the pre-season test and media day at Snetterton on 22 March. The opening two races of the season will be at Brands Hatch over the weekend of 2/3 April. His progress can be followed on Twitter: @georgedot